Anything by Trans Siberoan Orchestra and Send Me An Angel by the Scorpions (didn't even know this one was a Christmas song until I heard it being played in a local store last year during the holidays).

I like the old classical songs. Particularly the British ones as they have such pretty melodies and are so joyful. Most German ones are too thoughtful and serious for my taste. Some sound downright sad.

We have a radio station in the Bay Area (96.5 KOIT) that plays holiday songs earlier and earlier each year. They used to play Christmas songs only on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Then one year, starting from Thanksgiving Eve all day the way through December 25, it was Christmas songs 24/7. Last year they started on the weekend before Thanksgiving. I actually tune in whenever I'm in my car or in the office.

Not sure what's it like elsewhere but lot of shops in London start playing really bad christmas muzak pretty much from early Dec. Ghastly.

I've got a CD of classical Christmas stuff which makes 4 nice ring the changes. Stuff like Lt Kije. As for 'classic' xmas tunes, I'll second Kitt's Santa Baby, Garland or Nat King Cole's 'Have Yourself...' (am I the only one who finds that tune really melancholy and sad? - not good for depressives) and Let It Snow/Jingle Bell Rock, which always make me think of Die Hard

"Oh Holy Night" -- A beautiful and powerful song whether or not one is a believer

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Agreed. It's odd - I'm atheist, but I love Christmas music. I play the organ, and back when I lived in a house, I'd play this one, Do You Hear What I Hear?, and a whole bunch of others. I'd really crank up the volume and lose myself in it. My family never minded, which was fortunate.

I've got a Christmas music playlist on my iPod that I tried listening to the other day.... it didn't feel quite right. I don't think I'm in the holiday spirit at the moment. Maybe it'll come to me a little later, but I dunno. It's difficult for me to really get into the holiday mood, particularly right now when I'm somewhat irritated with life.

"Oh Holy Night" -- A beautiful and powerful song whether or not one is a believer

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Agreed. It's odd - I'm atheist, but I love Christmas music. I play the organ, and back when I lived in a house, I'd play this one, Do You Hear What I Hear?, and a whole bunch of others. I'd really crank up the volume and lose myself in it. My family never minded, which was fortunate.

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I'm the same; an atheist who loves Christmas music, even the highly religious stuff. Although I must admit that I hate "Do You Hear What I Hear"! That song just goes on and on and on for-fucking-ever!

Other traditional songs I'm very fond of are "Good King Wenceslas" and "O, Come All Ye Faithful." Like you, I love to play Christmas Carols, though I do so on a cello.

^Sufjan, for sure, although my favourite stuff from his first collection aren't even the Christmas hymns (Come Thou Fount, Holy Holy Holy).

I grew up hearing the Carpenter's Christmas album, so it's not Christmas until that one is playing.

The Charlie Brown Christmas album is another must.

Although there isn't much that I'd go for in contemporary music in this area, I'm also partial to Over the Rhine's Christmas album, "Snow Angels". Their twist on O Little Town of Bethlehem is great, as is their instrumental tribute to the Charlie Brown album (called "Goodbye Charles"). Unfortunately, neither of those two tracks are on YouTube, but the latter was uploaded for free by the band at the link given.

Garland or Nat King Cole's 'Have Yourself...' (am I the only one who finds that tune really melancholy and sad? - not good for depressives)

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It's from the movie "Meet me in St. Louis, a great movie btw, and when Judy Garland sings it to Margaret O'Brien it is very melancholy. The line "Have a merry little Christmas now" is referring to next year's Christmas might not be so good.

Seriously, rent "Meet Me in St. Louis" . It is full of great songs. Judy Garland is wonderful in this movie. Vincente Minelli, the director fell in love with her making this movie. She is lit beautifully.